Principal Planner; Infrastructure Planning

Principal Planner (Infrastructure Planning)

Join WSP and work on landmark infrastructure projects across energy, renewables, nuclear and transportation sectors.

WSP is an award‑winning consultancy that employs the largest number of chartered town planners in the UK. In December 2025, WSP won the RTPI’s Planning Consultancy of the Year award for its excellence in uniting diverse disciplines and for outstanding community engagement.

We serve a diverse portfolio of clients including National Grid, National Gas, Nuclear Waste Services, EET Fuels, Eni UK, SSE, Scottish Power Renewables, Severn Trent Water, Southern Water, United Utilities, Yorkshire Water and many more.

We are looking for an experienced Senior Consultant to join our Infrastructure Planning team and support town planning and consenting input on major and nationally significant infrastructure projects. The successful candidate will have demonstrable experience securing consent and approvals for major projects via the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Planning Act 2008, Transport and Works Act Order and, where applicable, the Planning (Wales) Act 2015, Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act or the Electricity Act.

• Lead preparation of Town & Country Planning Act applications for infrastructure projects across the UK.
• Support and lead on consenting inputs on major infrastructure projects (DCOs, DNSs, TWAOs, etc.).
• Provide sound technical advice to clients and support managing their consenting requirements, demonstrating awareness of client expectations and needs.
• Work and liaise with statutory bodies and stakeholders on behalf of clients to help deliver projects.
• Lead and engage with teams across a variety of disciplines, providing technical oversight.
• Understand project and team roles and actively support and contribute to achievement, building positive relationships within the team.
• Proactively engage with developing own knowledge and skills to build ability and team’s internal knowledge base.
• Support work‑winning opportunities in line with WSP’s Growth Strategy, contributing to identifying opportunities and to proposals.
• Be aware of project finances and demonstrate project management experience, ideally within a consultancy environment.
• Degree level qualification in town planning (or equivalent).
• Member of (or eligible for) the RTPI.

Mid‑Senior level

Contract

West Lothian, Scotland, United Kingdom